First damn good news I’ve seen in a while, even though the Governors reason for vetoing it seems a little convoluted.

Gov. Brad Henry today vetoed a measure that would require physicians who perform abortions to report certain information to the state Health Department.

The governor said House Bill 3284, which is similar to an earlier measure that was ruled unconstitutional by the courts, had numerous flaws and would ultimately result in another expensive and possibly futile legal battle for the state.

HB 3284 would have forced women, including rape and incest victims, to participate in an intimate and detailed questionnaire about their pregnancy and personal life in order to obtain an abortion, the governor said. The legislation also would have mandated that the questionnaire answers be posted on the Health Department’s website.

In his veto message, Henry said again he supported reasonable restrictions on abortion, but that HB 3284 had several flaws, including the lack of an exemption for rape and incest victims.

“By forcing rape and incest victims to submit to a personally invasive questionnaire and posting the answers on a state website, this legislation will only increase the trauma of an already traumatic event. Victims of such horrific acts should be treated with dignity and respect in such situations, as should all people,” Henry said.